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C-reactive protein as a risk factor versus risk marker
Moniek Pm de Maat1, Astrid Trion
1Department of Hematology, Erasmus University Medical Center, Rotterdam, The Netherlands. m.demaat@erasmusmc.nl
Current Opinion in Lipidology
|November 6, 2004
Summary
C-reactive protein (CRP) is linked to cardiovascular disease. Emerging evidence suggests CRP may play a causal role, though recent studies indicate its contribution might be less significant than previously thought.
Area of Science:
- Biomedical Science
- Cardiology
- Inflammation Research
Background:
- C-reactive protein (CRP) is consistently associated with cardiovascular disease (CVD) in various studies.
- Plasma CRP levels are considered indicators of the patient's or vessel wall's inflammatory state.
- Indications suggest a potential causal role for CRP in CVD pathogenesis.
Purpose of the Study:
- To review recent evidence on the mechanisms linking CRP to cardiovascular disease.
- To evaluate the accumulating evidence for CRP's causal role in CVD.
Main Methods:
- Review of recent publications on CRP and cardiovascular disease.
- Analysis of evidence from human-CRP transgenic animal models.
- Inclusion of data from a large prospective study and an updated meta-analysis.
Main Results:
- New publications indicate potential causal effects of CRP on CVD.
- Evidence from transgenic animal models supports CRP's causal contribution.
- A large prospective study and meta-analysis suggest a less impressive contribution of CRP to CVD than previously reported (OR, 1.58; 95% CI, 1.48-1.68).
Conclusions:
- Evidence is accumulating for CRP's involvement as a causal factor in cardiovascular disease precipitation.
- The review focuses on the most recent evidence regarding these causal mechanisms.